Overview

- Mont Creya - 3.015 m -

This mountain is the final part of the watershed along Urtier/Grauson that, starting from the Col des Invergneux also, in ancient times, Hevergnes (2.902m), form a small Subgroup of Penne Blanche. We will have in succession, from East to West, Tete de Vallonet, Eastern Penne Blanche (3.248m), the highest peak of this small mountain range, Saddle of 3.148 meters or Penne Blanche Pass, Western Penne Blanche, Pass and Pointe Coupée, Sella 3.105 meters, Tete de Money, wide saddle 2.971 meters and, finally, Monte Creya (3.015m). From this point the watershed splits sending towards South with a ridge in the direction of Mont Salet, such as to divide the Walloon Liconi from the lower part of that of Grauson, while another or Northwest drops, signaled by a series of large mounds stoneand cairns towards the Alp Créuzet (2.244m) and the Old Grauson Pasture (2.273m; recently restored, at least in part) under the Southeast Face of the Grauson majestic Tower.
Lovely day Hiking that has beautiful views of the Gran Paradiso Mountain Chain, which is right in front, and on the Cogne Resort, in the opposite direction, the entire Group Garin/Emilius/Grande Roise or Roizà (from the ancient Celtic word glacier). It can also become a cultural tour that linking the two ways (good connection of marked trails), door to visit the famous mining site of the Cogne Valley (from the L'E'closeur connection via path n° 8D with vein mine of Larsinaz (1.899m), Plan de Mount- Salet, Mine Costa del Pino (2.026m) and from this path n° 9 at Colonna Miners Village). Splendid Tour Excursion/Hike and somewhat instructive for the boys; all still in a somewhat wild.

First Ascents

First on the summit: Unknown.

In winter: Unknown.

Getting There

BY CAR:

From Torino, Milano, etc: Motorway A5. Exit at Aosta Ovest. Drive to the near Aymavilles. Follow the directions for Valle di Cogne.

From Switzerland: through the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel or the namesake Pass. Drive to Aosta, then follow the direction for Courmayeur on SS.26. Just after Sarre, turn to the left, in the direction of Valle di Cogne.

From France: through Mont Blanc Tunnel or Petit St. Bernard Pass. It isn't necessary to take Motorway A5: you can drive on SS.26, in the direction of Aosta. Before arriving at the Village of Sarre, turn right following the sign for Valle di Cogne. After Aymavilles, the Regional Road n° 47 crosses the Villages of Vieyes, Epinel and Cretaz and after about 25 Km arrives at Cogne (1.534m).

BY PLANE:

Aeroporto Internazionale "Corrado Gex" Saint Christophe (Aosta).

Approach A (From Gimillan to Money Lake)

From the city of Aosta (583m), the capital of the region, walk along the National Road n° 26 until the junction that leads to the charming town of Aymavilles (646m) 8 km away, from Aosta. From the central square of the village we take the Regional Road n° 47 and after passing the Hamlet of Vieyes (1.142m), the last Fraction of Aymavilles or Epinel (1.452m) and Crétaz (1.499m) will take you to Cogne Resort (1.534m) (28 km. from Aosta). After going through the entire village and reached the Chapel of St. Anthony, where she was a newly built roundabout, take the road that leads to Gimillan Village (1.787m) 3 km. from Cogne.
Go right starting from the car park of Gimillan: after few meters, the indications for Lussert Lakes, St. Marcel Pass, etc. are found. The pathway is indicated by the yellow circle and by yellow strips marked on stones along the route. The path begins going immediately uphill, then the slope decreases as we go beyond a little chapel dedicated to the Virgin (1.836m). Soon the path resumes to go up and splits in two, before it begins to penetrate into the Grauson Valley: it's possible to continue following the right one that goes down as far as the Ecloseur Bridge (1.904m), but in such a case we must go up again; it's better to follow the left one that, in practice without losing height, arrives at the bridge under the Alpeggio Pila (2.025m), cross it and, following the stepped pathway, overcome the rocky bastion beside a fine waterfall (at the left). At this point the path turns right markedly, entering, high on the torrent, into a small walloon; by an alternation of steep and slight slopes, it reaches a panoramic cross, on the edge of a pleasant plateau (superb view of the far La Grivola!). The path goes through the meadows, slightly descendind: after the Alpi di Grauson Vecchie (2.273m) (1h'45/2h'00 from Gimillan Hamlet).

Approach B (From Lillaz-Champlong to Colonna Mines)

From Cogne reach through the Regional Road Champlong/Saint-Pierre (1.596m), from this point take the path towards Northwest n° 7A and reach Facette Pasture (1.662m). Leaving on the left the trail with a long crossing to the West-northwest is directed to the Village of Montroz always with the trail n° 5. Continuing instead to the North dominating from the Walloon of the Torrent Liconi and reaching the largest concentration which is the remains of the homes of miners Colonna (2.386/90m; extraction of the valuable Cogne magnetite or loadstone; 1h'30/2h'00).

Route A (From Money Lake into Grauson Walloon)

From Grauson Vieux, or rather, from the junction immediately after entering the grassy plateau (2.298m), turn right (Southeast) and via the route n° 8C, passing under some benches of rock, and reach over across the torrent which descends from Lake of Money (2.550m), at his emissary to the South of that. Rounding to the right (West) to come up with the lake heading Southwest via a small path not numbered, and the same, gradually turns into a track between steep grassy slopes. Follow it up to about 2.910/20 meters, where it disappears just below the Crest Northwest near the 2.968 meters altitude. Along this (endless meadows of edelweiss), you will soon reach the Top (E; 1h'30/1h'45 from Grauson Vieux).

Route B (From Champlong or "Way of the Mines")

Colonna Mines

Liconi Mines

From Colonna continue with trail n° 5 to the Northeast climbing to the overlying Miniere di Liconi (2.495m), just below the Mont Salet (2.764m) from these down to the bottom of the deep valley of the same name and Liconi reaching the stream crossing for twice. Returning to the left (west) and continue towards the north, again on a comfortable path and passed three bends, reaching the south-southwest ridge that connects to the Mont Salet. With this easy to reach the summit (1h'00 from Colonna Mines Village; 2h'45/3h'00 in total from Champlong Fraction).

Difficulties & Descent

E/F (for both the routes).

E/F (per entrambe le vie).

Options Descent

Identical ascent route, or a combination, in preference, the two paths. In this case, keep in mind, after the descent on Grauson Walloon at Ecloseur small Pasture, the path n° 8D with Vein Mine of Larsinaz (1.899m) Plan de Mont-Salet, Mine Costa of Pino (2.026m) and this path with connection at Colonna n° 9, otherwise vice versa with direct Southern descent to the Mines Liconi, Colonna, Champlong-Lillaz Hamlets in Cogne Valley.

Acknowledgements

Images

"Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks. Great success shooting the knife into the piano. The woodworms are so bad and eat hell out of all furniture that you can always claim the woodworms did it."
--Ernest Hemingway